Using social media marketing is a hugely valuable strategy for expanding a blog’s audience and visibility. But simply posting links won’t cut it anymore.
In this comprehensive 2000 word guide, we’ll cover how to genuinely connect with readers, build engagement, and drive website traffic using today’s top social platforms. Let’s do this!
Choose the Right Social Platforms
With so many options, focus your efforts on the 2-3 platforms where your target audience is most active.
Conduct audience research to determine their main social haunts using tools like Social Media Analytics. Study competitors too.
Top platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, LinkedIn, Reddit and TikTok each reach different demographics.
For example, highly visual content works best on Instagram and Pinterest while newsy content suits Twitter and Facebook. Match social content accordingly.
Create Engaging Social Media Profiles
Your profiles establish credibility and represent your brand. Make them informative and appealing:
– Use branded profile photos and covers. Show faces for a personal touch.
– Craft an intuitive, keyword-rich handle/username without random numbers or shorthand.
– Write complete, optimized profile descriptions communicating your blog’s focus and value proposition.
– Link to your website and other social accounts to connect properties.
– Feature lead magnet incentives like free downloads to encourage follows.
A clean, professional profile builds trust and makes readers more likely to engage.
Design Visually Compelling Social Content
Great visuals and videos boost engagement across every platform versus plain text status updates.
– Share blog headlines, highlights and quotes over branded images, graphics and infographics.
– Capture followers’ attention with short videos like footage from around your office, insider tips, behind-the-scenes and more.
– For visual platforms like Instagram and Pinterest, blog images must be high-quality and eye-catching. Optimize them for each network.
– Leverage features like Facebook and Instagram Stories to give followers a “day in the life” look at your brand.
– Promote lead magnets and offers with visual social ads.
Compelling images and videos differentiate your content in busy feeds and promote clicks.
Write Clickable, Value-Driven Post Copy
Your captions and post text inform and intrigue followers. Follow these copywriting tips:
– Ask intriguing questions to spur comments and reactions.
– Use power words and phrases that grab attention like “Surprising” “You won’t believe” “Guess what?”
– Share practical tips and actionable advice from blog content.
– Give behind-the-scenes perspectives from your team.
– Celebrate wins and milestones like post milestones or traffic records.
– Run polls and contests to spark engagement.
Share your personality and get conversations started. Keep promotional language to a minimum. Offer value.
Engage Followers and Nurture Community
Building relationships should take priority over blasting links. Here’s how:
– Respond and reply to all comments. Have real conversations that foster connection.
– Ask for input and feedback. Readers want to feel heard.
– Give social media followers exclusive content, deals and access.
– Share user-generated content that spotlights engaged followers.
– Join related groups and chats. Contribute, don’t just pitch yourself.
Social media is about human interaction. Develop a loyal community that eagerly awaits your content.
Post Consistently and Monitor Performance
A steady stream of content and monitoring results helps maximize return.
– Maintain a consistent posting schedule so followers know when to expect you.
– Vary post times to determine when your audience is most responsive. Adjust accordingly.
– Pay attention to which post types, topics, and content forms get highest engagement. Do more of that.
– Know key engagement metrics beyond just Likes/Follows – comments, clicks, conversions etc.
– Use social media analytics tools to identify your top-performing updates as well as laggards.
Consistent visibility plus understanding performance drives better results over time.
Promote Posts Strategically
How and when you publish content impacts its reach. Be smart about promotion:
– Share posts during peak times when your audience is online and active.
– Spread bigger posts over multiple days and channels for extended exposure.
– Re-promote evergreen content that continues resonating with readers.
– Pin or boost social posts with strong engagement to share them again.
– Use paid promotions cautiously – focus spend on converting content like lead magnets and webinars.
– Sequence social promotion around email newsletters. Direct recipients to click from your emails to social.
Strategic timing and promotion maximize eyeballs on each piece of content.
Collaborate with Influencers
Influencers help expand your reach by introducing your brand to new, targeted audiences.
– Partner with microinfluencers in your space for blog mentions, co-hosted giveaways, quote contributions etc. Offer to cross-promote their content too.
– Ask influencers to share your content with their following if it offers unique value. Don’t expect shares simply because you asked.
– Invite respected influencers to guest author blog posts or publish interviews with them.
– Request testimonials from brands and thought leaders who love your content. Show off their kudos socially.
– Join co-marketing partnerships and link exchanges with similar yet non-competing blogs and influencers.
Co-promotion with the right influencers is a win/win.
Drive Website Traffic with Calls-to-Action
Ultimately you want social media efforts to drive traffic. Use strategic calls-to-action (CTAs) in posts.
– “Click the link in our bio to see the full post now!”
– “Head to the blog using the link below for the complete tutorial”
– “Read all 10 tips in the full article. Just click below to visit our website.”
– “See the video on YouTube. Just tap the link!”
– “Want the latest news? Subscribe on our website here [link]”
Well-placed CTAs get more visitors clicking from social media to your content.
Create Shareworthy Lead Magnets
Content upgrades like guides, coupons and resources entice follows, shares and traffic.
Promote your most viral, evergreen lead magnet content consistently across social channels.
For example, promoting a lead magnet post 3X per week on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn can generate big results over time.
Rotate multiple pieces of high-quality lead magnet content to maximize exposure.
Make following and sharing as frictionless as possible by having lead magnets accessible right from social posts.
Value-rich lead magnets encourage social sharing, grows followers and delivers highly interested traffic.
Analyze Results and Refine Your Approach
Consistency is key but assessing your efforts is crucial too.
Use built-in and third-party analytics to monitor:
– Follower growth and demographics data
– Post and content type performance
– Engagement rates and which followers engage most
– Website traffic being driven by social
– Conversions from social channels like email signups
Continually refine your strategies based on insights to boost ROI.
Social media marketing works best as part of an ongoing strategy, not a one-off tactic. Results compound over time.
With smart, value-focused and audience-centered efforts, your social presence and website traffic will continue to grow.
